Tankless water heaters first came into widespread use in Europe after the Second World War. Shunned in the United States as being incapable of providing sufficient volumes of hot water at high enough temperatures, they were brought over to Canada where they gradually gained popular acceptance. After the energy crisis in the 1970’s they saw increased use in Europe and Canada, but they still were not an acceptable alternative to the standard tank type water heaters used in the United States. Americans were use to big things, lots of water standing ready for use, indifferent for the most part, to the cost of the energy required to achieve this. As years have gone by and energy costs have heated up, more and more Americans have looked for ways to save energy, money and water. When properly sized, installed and for the right application, tankless water heaters can help accomplish these goals.

A tankless water heater consists of a coil of tubing assembled in a unit called a heat exchanger. In gas models, a main burner is situated underneath the heat exchanger. In older, and some cheaper models, a standing pilot flame burns continuously to ignite the main burner upon a call for hot water. New models use different sources of ignition: mechanical ignition or piezo ignitors. In older models of tankless water heaters, the gas valve provided steady supply of fuel to the main burner irrespective of the quantity of hot water required. This was, by and large, the source of complaints about insufficient hot water volume. More hot water demand with these older units meant cooler water temperatures and less hot water. Newer models have a modulating gas valve, the greater the hot water demand, the more fuel the gas valve supplies to the main burner. Electric point of use tankless is the same principal as the gas units, when a hot water tap is opened; the cold water enters the tankless water heater and triggers the heating elements to turn on. Your hot water tap acts as an ignition key for the energy used to heat the hot water you need. The water is then heated as it flows through the heating elements or heat exchanger. If you turn on the bathroom sink faucet only using a small volume of water – about 1.5 gallons per minute – the water heater’s main burner will only burn with a light, short flame. If you turn on another hot water faucet, increasing the hot water demand, the main burner flame will burn much hotter giving you more hot water.

A tankless water heater without a standing pilot will sit quietly doing nothing, not using energy at all, not using or heating water. If a tank type water heater springs a leak, you may be faced with a flood and consequent water damage. Not so with w tankless water heater; there is no tank full of water to drain out all over our floor. Tankless water heaters are small in comparison to a tank type unit. They hang on a wall and range in size from that of a bread basket to a large medicine chest. They are designed to last for 20+ years and can be mounted to a wall to save space. You can set the temperature of your hot water from your bathroom or anywhere else in your house with one touch of a button. You can install multiple thermostats in different locations throughout your home. You can take as long of a shower as you want with a tankless water heater. It will produce hot water without interruption as long as the hot water faucet is on.

It is estimated that 7.3 million traditional tank-based water heaters are disposed into landfills each year in the United States.

Whether you are looking for gas or electric tankless water heaters, we can help you find the perfect tankless water heater for your home. Call us today 918-258-6636 for a detailed analysis of your heating needs.